Taft drama teacher busted for child porn

Michael P. Mayko

Updated 11:20 pm, Tuesday, December 4, 2012

A drama teacher at the exclusive Taft School in Watertown admitted to an FBI agent during his arrest Tuesday that he downloaded and distributed photos of young boys for at least two years, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport.

The teacher, Richard Doyle, 63, of Litchfield, remained behind bars pending a hearing Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons. He is charged with possessing, receiving and distributing pornographic photos of young boys.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Anjna R. Kapoor, who along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel is prosecuting the case, said investigators seized computers, computer equipment, thumb drives and suspected child pornography magazines during a search of Doyle's home and office. Images on the thumb drive included young boys engaged in sexual acts with each other, according to the affidavit.

Doyle has been placed on administrative leave as a result of his arrest, according to Susan L. Henebry, assistant business manager for human resources and the school counsel.

In the summer of 2011, Doyle took nine students to Maine's Spruce Island to shoot an original movie titled "Option 61."

"There is no indication at this time that any of our students were involved or at risk at any time," Henebry said in a statement released to the media and parents of students.

She said the school is cooperating with the investigation.

Taft is an exclusive high school that has 587 students from 34 states. Tuition is $48,360 annually for students who live on the 224-acre campus and $35,775 for commuting students.

Doyle has been a drama and film teacher there since 1989. He became the subject of a federal investigation in late October when FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Suchy, working undercover, logged into a peer-to-peer file sharing program and was given access by Doyle. Suchy downloaded 40 files with Doyle's permission.

The charges of receipt and distribution of child pornography carry a possible sentence ranging from a mandatory minimum five years to a maximum 20 years in prison. Possession of child pornography carries a maximum 10-year prison term.